Market analysis of mathematics-based software in an expert-founded venture

摘要

The application of mathematical techniques and the development of related application-ware tend to attract highly educated information scientists trained by mathematics-based education systems, and this preference affects their behaviour in software industries. This paper reports the process and result of market assessment of a mathematical programming (MP) package for a software house to decide whether the MP package development is worth the allocation of the workforce or not. The process started with a literature survey with the aid of science information databases and proceeded to interviews with experts in the 'real world'. This process revealed a gap between technique based and reality-based ways of judgement and the biased behaviour of experts in different fields. Lessons learned from this process are discussed with a view to the implications for high-tech venture management. [References: 54]